Daisy Comes Home

Jan Brett has woven together intricate illustrations with an exciting story as we float with Daisy the hen down the Li River on an unexpected trip. Daisy's encounters with a dog, a water buffalo, a pack of monkeys and a fisherman are interesting and life-like - no talking animals here! As Daisy and Daisy's owner Mei Mei make their way to the marketplace, the mountainous scenery changes often. Look carefully and you will see the mountains become dragons and snakes, chickens and monkeys. The marketplace illustrations feel authentic and up-to-date and the wonderful colors and hustle-and-bustle feel adds to the story's tension for an exciting reunion! Brett's illustrations are wonderfully layered with Chinese textures and materials from china pattern designs to bamboo screens. Beautifully illustrated and skillfully told, Daisy Comes Home is sure to be one of those favorites that asks to be read over and over again.

My 5-year-old daughter and I read this with a great deal of delight. The story is exciting, and what makes it very special is its authenticity. Daisy isn't a human-like character, she does only real hen things; Mei Mei isn't a super-clever, cutesy ethnic character, she's a young Chinese girl who loves her hens. Together, they overcome the scary, vulnerable situations they find themselves in just by doing hen and little girl things. All of this with fascinating, rich illustrations of the Li River region of southern China that are also very true to life. A tale for the heart and a treat for the eyes.

"Look over the garden wall and you will see the six happiest hens in China. They live in Mei Mei's sandy yard by the Li River where they lay brown eggs every day for Mei Mei to sell at the market. But it was not always this way." So begins Jan Brett's entertaining folk tale about a tormented little hen who takes an unexpected adventure down the Li River, and finds she's braver and more resourceful than she ever knew. Daisy was the smallest hen in the yard, and constantly bullied by her coopmates. One rainy evening when she "had had enough of pushy hens and cold, damp floors," she went down to the river bank and fell asleep in a nice cozy market basket. As the river rose, Daisy floated out onto the water, and the current carried her away..... Ms Brett's exciting story and engaging text is only outdone by her exquisite, lush and vivid artwork, that brings the China countryside and all its splendor to life. This is a story told through and enhanced by the intricately detailed illustrations, and youngsters will love poring over and exploring the intriguing pictures. As in all Jan Brett books, there are many delightful hidden features, and her signature borders that advance the plot. Perfect for children 4-8, Daisy Comes Home is charming story with a happily-ever-after ending, that shouldn't be missed.

I first read this as a bedtime story to a girl while I was babysitting. I think I may have enjoyed the story more than she did. Jan Brett tells us the story of how Daisy, the smallest of all the six Happy Hens was bullied by all the others. Finally one night when she was fed up with sleeping on the cold floor she left. Curling up in a basket on the side of the river, Daisy falls asleep. She doesn't wake up when the river rises to the basket and sends it floating down the river. Finally waking up Daisy escapes many encounters with different animals along her travles down the water. When Mei Mei, the owner of the Happy Hens, realizes Daisy is not around she begins searching all over the place. While at the market Mei Mei learns where she can find Daisy. I enjoyed the story but I was most impressed with the illustrations. I read this story again after the young girl I was babysitting fell asleep. Looking more at the pictures I began to notice the hidden animals in the mountains and the details that are easy missed around the borders of the page. This book offers much more than just a story to the readers. I know if I read it again I would notice something amoung the illustrations that I missed last time.

I truly loved this book! I read it with my students from first grade to third and they all loved looking for the hidden animals in the mountains and discovering China from the illustrations. The highlight came when they discovered Jan Brett's signature hidden hedgehog! If you are a Jan Brett fan this is a must have! Don't forget to visit her website to find activities to accompany this awesome book!